What makes Depression different from Coronavirus?

No matter where you live, you either know someone who is struggling with depression or other mental disorders or you have dealt with it yourself. Depression is one of the leading causes of mental disability in this world we live in. Depression can manifest itself as post-trauma, childhood trauma, societal stigma and embarrassment, bullying, postpartum depression in mothers who recently gave birth, frankly there are many other causes. But for some, it is a way of life. 

Many people don't even consider they have depression. They consider their sleeplessness or sleeping a lot, their aches and pains, their lack of energy and focus, and other things to be something more physical rather than mental. Many people are just not willing to accept the fact that they are mentally disabled because they don't think society, their family and friends will accept it. I personally feel society, our friends, even our family sees Mental illness as something like fiction or made-up thing, and not the truth of this world we live in. Why is depression such a taboo in our society when nearly 300 million people of all ages suffer from it? 

Coronavirus is a pandemic because it is contagious and kills people, yet depression is not an epidemic, although it is not contagious yet kills nearly 800,000 people a year. What makes depression different from Coronavirus, both are killing people, right?

Many people think depression is just being sad all the time, one of the many reasons can be the influence of Our Bollywood movies, and songs. The portrayal of someone being depressed in the movies or songs is either him being a drunk or an addict, and it hurts me to say but, or a psychopath. Whereas if it's a girl, she can just kill herself. This is not me making things up. You know it, you have seen it. Bollywood has the habit of stereotyping, being hypocritical and spurious. We are constantly fed that and unconsciously we are brainwashed. 

Tell me one thing, ever in your lifetime, have you ever randomly found yourself looking at the scars on someone's wrist and instantly thought, "girlfriend-boyfriend ka chakkar hoga", or "Boyfriend chhodke bhaag gaya hoga" (Must be some Girlfriend-boyfriend issues or her boyfriend must have left her). I have one word for you, Bollywood. Also one of the other reasons I'm writing this article on my blog is Bollywood, Sushant Singh Rajput, gone too soon, Rest in peace. 

His death made me realise how many superficial people are there in this world. Depression must be trending in India Today along with Sushant's death. I have all my respect for him and I in no way mean to disrespect him, but isn't it the fact? How many of you people who are saying, and writing posts like, " be there for your friends, you never know what one may be going through", have actually shut people off while they tried to tell you about their mental health? How many of you have told them that, "Arey aisa kuch nahi hota re, khush rehneka", or "Tu dhyaan mat de, apna mind kisi aur cheez me laga", or "kya roti rehti/rehta jab dekho, tereko akeli/akele ko problem nahi hai, Duniya me kitne logon ke pass kuch nahi hai fir bhi khush hai" 

("Nothing is like that, be happy", or "You don't pay any attention to it, focus on something else, you will be fine", or "Don't be a cry baby, you are not the only one with problems, people have it worse") How many of you have actually said any of these things or anything closely related to above sentences? how many of you have heard this?

Deep in my mind somewhere I know this awareness is just because of the shock factor which Sushant's death had us in. I know this awareness that you all have right now will slowly turn to ignorance in these coming days or weeks. The 'trend' of 'awareness' will fade soon. People will forget Because depression vepression kuch nahi hota hai, positive think karneka, sab theek ho jayega. (Because depression and all is nothing dude, think positive and everything will be fine) and the depressed ones will again be lying in their bed thinking, "haath kaatu ya pankhe se latak jau?" (Should I cut my wrist or hang myself by the fan?).